The Case

What? You've never heard of the Clubhouse?!? Well, dust off those mouse
ears, pull up a comfy chair, and I'll tell you a story.

In the early days of cable television there was The Disney Channel—a
full day of programming featuring classic Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and
Pluto (the Big Five) short films, Disney feature animation, live action films,
vintage Walt-hosted television series, theme park specials, and new shows
featuring Winnie the Pooh (in Muppet form), and the late, great DTV (music
television, the Disney way). The branding of the Big Five was everywhere.

And then came the Dark Age—Lizzie Maguire, Even Stevens,
Kim Possible, and That's So Raven. Mickey and the gang were
unceremoniously dumped and sent into exile under the tidal wave of tween-ager
programming. In fact, if it weren't for the ever-present translucent logo, you
wouldn't even know you were watching the Disney Channel. Kids around the world
were identifying Disney more with The Wiggles and Rolly Polly
Ollie than the mouse the company was built upon.

When Bob Iger took over for Michael Eisner, programming and marketing
executives wised up and began to re-leverage its classic properties, bringing
the Big Five out of mothballs and updating them for a new generation. Welcome to
Playhouse Disney, a parent's favorite babysitter for ages 3 to 8.
Little Einsteins, Higgle Town Heroes, The Doodlebops, and
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. All of these shows engage the kids to sing,
dance, think, and respond utilizing their adventure specific Mousketools,
courtesy of the clubhouse's electronic brain Mouskedoer and their virtual friend
Tootles. Every time the gang runs into trouble, the kids have to help Mickey and
friends decide which of their Mouseketools to use. If my 3-and-half-year-old
niece and 2-year-old nephew are any indication, the kids love it!

Just in time for the holidays, Disney has released the first
Clubhouse DVD—Mickey Saves Santa and other Mouseketales. In
the first of three adventures, Mrs. Claus and Prancer call on Mickey and Donald
to help save Santa, whose sleigh has broken down on top of Mistletoe Mountain.
The only hitch is that Donald has to keep his infamous temper in check or there
will be no Christmas for anyone. Next, Goofy shows up with a new hat he found in
the woods. Only it's not a hat at all. It's a bird's nest…with a baby bird
still inside (nobody ever said Goofy was very bright). Now Mickey and the gang
have to get Baby Red Bird back to his family. And finally, we join forces with
Mickey to take on champion hider Donald in a game of Hide and Seek. Are you up
to challenge? Well then start counting!

Presented in 1.33:1 full screen format, the transfer is pixel perfect. I
challenge anyone to find any digital flaws. While the 3D animation has been a
point of contention among many older Disney purists, it's not as distractiing as
some would have you believe. In fact, it's quite appropriate for the format of
the show, playing out more like a slick computer game. Had it been done in
traditional 2D animation, the magic of these tales would be lost. The Dolby 2.0
audio is available in both English and French, with surprisingly consistent
characterizations in each. English subtitles are also included.

Two minor bonus features have been tacked on for good measure. A song and
dance along video for the show's big musical finale "Hot Dog," by
indie favorites They Might Be Giants, who have a whole new career for themselves
in children's music. There's also a set-top Picture Puzzle game, where kids can
help Mickey unscramble a series of familiar images.

This court commends Disney execs for bringing back the Big Five for kids of
all ages. My only contention is with the home video packaging. Parents expecting
this to be a Christmas themed release will be disappointed, as only the first of
the three tales are holiday related. Aside from that, don't hesitate to bring
this DVD home for your little Disney-fanatics. You'll be singing right along
with them.

And now it's time to say goodbye to our virtual
jury…M-I-C…K-E-Y…M-O-U-S-E.

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